Automatic washing machine and suds storage and return system therefor



April 5, 1960 M. G. sTEFr-EY 2,931,199

AuToMATTc WASHING MACHINE AND suns sToRAGE AND RETURN SYSTEM THEREFoE @MME @2M- @5%- April 5, 1960 M. G. srEFFEY AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE AND suns STORAGE: AND RETURN SYSTEM THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 17, 1955 INVENTOR.

MARVIN G. STEFFEY BY v Iig-2 MACHINE TUB ATTO Us April 5, 1960 M. G. sfrEr-FEY 2,931,199

AUTOMATIC wAsH MACHINE AND sun ToRAGE AND RE N SYSTEM THEREF' Filed May 17, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

MARVIN G. STEFFEY H T|MER CONTACTS CLOSED im clRcLuT ENERGlzx-:n THROUGH WATER LEVEL swlTcH e4 m GIRCUITENERGIZED THROUGH MANUAL swrrcH 55 April 5, 1960 M. G. STEFFEY AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE AND SUDS STORAGE AND RETURN SYSTEM THEREFOR Filed May 17, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MooERN memes cYcLe C4 v97 C5 NORMAL WASHING CYCLE INVENTOR. MARVIN G. STEFFEY ifed Sees Patent AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE AND SUDS STORAGE AND RETURN SYSTEM THEREFOR Marvin G. Stetfey, St. Joseph, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application May 17, 1955, Serial No. 508,874

4 Claims. (Cl. 68-12) This invention relates to improvements in automatic washing machines and suds storage and return systems therefor.

A principal object of my invention is to provide an improved` suds storage and return system for automatically storing and returning the sudsy Washing water of an automatic washing machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved Washing machine structure having an automatic suds storage and return system as a unitary part of the machine.

' A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved suds storage and return system in which the suds storage tank is a unitary part of the cabinet structure of the machine and in which a pump and novel system of conduits and control valves, cooperate with the pump for automatically transferring suds from the machine to the suds storage tank at the end of a washing operation, and for returning suds to the machine at the beginning of a washing cycle, which is selectively operable to tiush the suds storage tank and discharge the suds from the tank and tub to drain, at the end of a washing cycle, as selected.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved automatic washing machine having a.

built-in suds storage tank and a pumping and control valve system therefor automatically operated under control of the cyclic control for the machine, and providing a simple and effective structure and control for more eiciently storing the suds at the end of a washing cycle and for returning the same to the washing machine at the initiation of a next succeeding washing cycle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an automatic washing machine having a built-in suds storage tank in which the suds is transferred from the machine to suds storage tank in accordance with the cyclic condition of operation of the machine and is maintained at the desired temperature for washing throughout a series of washing cycles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a suds storage and return system for automatic washing machines in which the suds is automatically stored for reuse at the end of a washing cycle and is returned to the Washing machine at the beginning of a next succeeding washing operation, in which a selectively operable lyalye and control system is operable to completely exhaust water from the washing machine at the end of thev last washing operation and iush the suds storage tank with rinse water and then withdraw water from the washing machine and storage tank to drain.

These and other objects of the inventionwill appear form time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: f Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an automatic laundry machine constructed in accordancewith the prin- -ciples of the present invention, with parts of thecabinet 2,931,199 Patented s Apr 5, 19,60.v

= in Figure l;

Figure 4 is -a diagrammatic view diagrammatically showing the Huid ow between the washing machine tub and suds storage tank during the suds storage return and ushing operations; l

Figure 5 is an operation schedule diagram illustrating the cycle of operation of the machine of the present invention and specifically illustrating the suds storage and return operation;

Figure 6 is an electric circuit diagram of the machine illustrated in Figure 1 and operable in accordance with the programming schedule illustrated in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional View taken through the bottom of the tub in order to show the heater therefor.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, I have shown in Figure l an automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine 10 having la cabinet 11 forming an enclosure for a tub 12 and a suds storage tank 15, and having a pump 16 for withdrawing water from the tub 12 through a two-Way valve 17 and transferring water to the storage tank 15 through a two-way valve 19, and returning water to the tub 12 and draining the tub 12 and storage tank 15, all under the cyclic control of the washing machine and the two-Way valves 17 and 19, as will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specilication proceeds.

It is to be understood that the terms suds and suds water as usedherein describe water to which soap or detergent has been added and are common terminology in the art.

A clothes container 20 -is rotatably mounted within the tub 12 and is closed at its top by the top of the cabinet 11, which also forms an enclosure for the control and drive mechanism for the machine.

The tub 12 is carried on a oating base 21, suspended from the top portion of the cabinet on suspension links 22-22, encased in rubber at their ends and carried in sockets 23 in the base 21 and in similar sockets 24 at the upper part of the cabinet 11, for dampening oscillatable movement of said tub and base, as is usual with present day automatic washing and extracting machines.

Suspended from the base 21 on a hanger bracket 25 is a motor 27, serving as a drive motor for the machine. A gear casing 29 for drive mechanism for oscillatably driving an agitator 30 is likewise suspended from the base 21 on bolts 31, suitably secured to the base 21 and depending therefrom and maintaining the gear casing 29 in fixed parallel spaced relation with respect to the base 21.-

An oscillatable drive shaft 33 is rotatably carried in the gear casing 29 in a boss 34 depending from a lower part 35 thereof, and extends upwardly through said gear case and is journaled within a rotatable drive sleeve 35. The agitator 30 is carried on the upper end of the shaft 33 and is suitably secured thereto, to be oscillatably driven thereby'upon oscillatable movement of said shaft. The oscillatable drive shaft 33 is like that shown in the previously mentioned-Patent No. 2,625,248, dated January 13, 1953, and is no part of my present invention so need not herein be shown or described further. The sleeve 35 extends within a stationary sleeve 36, which extends upwardly from a flanged hollow center post 37, forming a closure for the bottom of the tub 12. The sleeve35 has the clothes container or basket 20 sup'f ported on its upper 4end for spinning the same upon No. 2,625,248, dated January 13, 1953.

The motor 27 has an upwardly projecting motor shaft 39fhaving amotor p ulley 49Ysuitablysecured tofits up perend for driving a sheave 41 through `a belt 43 .to effect spinning of the basket or clothes container 20 ,under the control of suitable clutch means (not shown), as in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,625,248. The belt 43, trained about the motor pulley 40, is also trained around a drive sheave 44, pinned or otherwise secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft 45, forming a drive shaft for the mechanism for oscillatably driving the shaft .33 and agitator 36 through suitable clutch means (not shown), as in the aforementioned PatentNo. 2,625,248.

The suds .storage tank 15 extends alongone side of the cabinet 11 to one side of the tub 12."The suds storage tank 15 extends for a greaterpart of theheight of the cabinet 11 and has a pipe or Aconduit 50 leading from the bottom thereof and connected withtheltwo-way valve 19, controlling transfer of suds vfrom the laundry machine tub and back to the suds storage'tank .15.

A bypass line for lby-passing the inlet conduit 501formed by a conduit or pipe 51 also leads from the bottom of the suds storage tank 15 and is connected with the twoway valve 17. Suds may be dischargedfrom the suds tank 1S through the conduit 51 and two-way valve 17 through the pump 16 and two-way valve 19 through a drain pipe 53 upon rotation of the pump 16 in the proper direction.

The ,suds storage tank 15 also has an overflow drain 54 leading from the top thereof, to accommodate suds overtlowed from the top of the tank 15 through the drain 54 during the last Washing operation of a seriesof-washing, rinsing, extracting and suds return operations. This is attained under the control of a manually operated switch 5S (see Figure l6), diagrammatically shown as having twoganged switch arms 56 and S7. The ganged switch arms 56 and 57 close simultaneously. The switch arm 56 controls the energization of a solenoid63 operating vthe two-way valve 19 and the Switch arm 57 controls ythe energization of va solenoid 64 operating the two-way valve 17, throughthe cyclic control of the rnachine.

The pump 16 may be of any well known'form of bidirectional pump, pumping in either of two directions by reversal of the direction ofthe rotor of the pump Quot-shown). A detailed description of the pump land the control meanstherefore, need not herein be repeated.

It is, of course, understood that-the pump 16 need knot bereversiblebut that the sameeiect may beattained by reversing valve means to the pump casing if desired.

The pump 16 has a conduit 59 connected with one end thereof, having communication with the two-way valve19. The pump 16 also has a conduit 60 leading from the other end thereof and connected with the two- .way valve 17. Thus, when vthe pump 16 is pumpingin one direction, Huid will be withdrawn Afrom the tub 12 through the two-way valve 17 and will be supplied to the suds storage tank 15 through the conduit '59 and two-way valve 19. When the direction of pumping of thepump 16 is reversed, iluid will be transferred from the suds storage tank 15 through the two-way valve 19 to the laundry machine tub 12 through the two-way valve 17. The direction of pumping of the pump 16 is under the cyclic control of the machine and may be eiectedby engagement of the pump drive pulley (not shown) with a .friction face 62 of the pulley 44, to etectrotationof the pump 16 to `pump in one direction, and byeengagement of the pump drive pulley with rthe belt 43 to eiect pumping .o the pump in an opposite direction..

The operation ofthe valves 17 and 19 and of the pump 16 is correlated automatically by the sequential control means so that after a washing cycle the laundry operation of the machine.

valve 17, the conduit 60, the pump 16, the conduit 59, 'the valve 19"'and 'the conduit 50. 'The uid can be returned to the tub 12 from the suds storage tank 15 via the same plumbing connections. y

I have also shown an immersion heater 66 in the suds storage tank 15, which may bemanually turned on under the control of a manually operated switch 67 (see Figure-6).

Aheating-element 69 is also shown as being provided to .maintainthe suds wash water at the required ternperaturelduring the washing operation. v.The heating element 69 is shown in Figure 6 as being connected in thc energizing circuit for carrying out of the various washing steps,rin`parallel --with a solenoid 7i? Vcontrolling operation of the agitator V30, to eect energization of the heater 69 Whenever the agitator 36 is in operation. While the heater-69 may also be an immersion heater in the bottom of thetub 12, vsaid Vheater is .herein .shown as being.a.,resistance"heater ofthe pancake type, carried ben'eath'the nib 12 and abutting the bottom thereof and encircling the flange `of the anged center post 37.

Referi-ingrnow to Figures "5 and 6 and thev operation of 'themachine andthe sequential control circuit for cartying out 'the suds storage .and return operations, the motor 27.is.shown in Figure 6 as being a two-speed motor .of the induction-type with a fixed `eld structure and a squirrel cage armature or rotor Within the field structure, to carry out a normal Washing operation at a normalor regular speed, and to carry out a modern fabrics washing operation at a considerably slower speed.

The field structure hasa iirst tield winding (not shown) energized through Ya conductor '71 and a second field winding (not shown) energized through a conductor 72. The iirsteld winding, when energized through the conductor v71, eiects rotation of the armature at arelatively high rate of speed and the second winding when energized through the conductor 72 effects rotation of the armature at a predetermined slower speed for washing modern fabrics, as diagrammatically indicated in` Figure 5.

A sequential controller or timer unit v74 is shown in Figure 6-as having a series of timer cams C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7 and C8 for controlling the sequential The timer unit 74 is rotated to' an .on position to initiate thecarrying out of the Washing, rinsing and drying cycles under the operation of a knob 76, Vprovided with suitable indicia thereon, to indicate-the point on the operating cycle at which the timer camshave been set.

Figure 5 shows two distinct programming schedules, the rst of which Vis indicated as a normal washing schedule carried out by rotation of the motor 27 at a normal speed, and the second of which is identified as a modern fabrics schedule or cycle carried out by rotation of .the motor 27 at a slower speed. This is effected by rotation of the cams C1 'through C8, upon energization ofthe timer motor 75. The cams C1 through C8 have high and `low and intermediate camming surfacestnot shown) engageable with switch arms S1 through S8, respectively. Thus, whenever the knob 76 is adjusted through a sector of'movement corresponding to approximately 220 of arc, all of the electrical equipment will beconditioned in'accordance with the programming specications of the normal Washing cycle. Whenever 4the Yknob 76 .is aligned and positioned in a diierent sector covering .approximately 95, all of the electrical equipment'willbe conditioned in accordance with the program schedule determined in the modern fabrics cycle.

A hand switch operated by depression of the knob "76 .is provided to initially close an energizing circuit to the various operating parts of -the machine. The hand 'switch v80 may be operated byL depressing the knob 76 after the knob 76 is rotated to a position corresponding to the desired length of Washing time or to the desired source of current supply v,provide .current to energize'tlie electrically operated 'parts of the machine when the cam switch S1 and the manually operated switch 80 are closed. When nob 76 has been turned to a suds return position lrepresenting the first three increments of'the cycle, the timer motor 75 is energized through conductor 81, switch S1, manually operated switch 80, switch S2 and conductor 82. This will effect rotation of the timer cams and energization of the agitator solenoid 70 through a lower contact 8S of the cam operated switch S3. The heater 69 in parallel with the agitator solenoid 70 will also be energized. At the same time the solenoid 63 of the two-way valve 19 will be energized through an upper Contact 86 of a cam-operated switch SS, and the lower contact 83a of the water level switch 84 when tub 12'is empty. This will open the valve 19 to the conduit 50 and provide fluid communication between the suds storage tank 15 and the pump 16. Water level switch 84 moves to close upper contact 83 when tub 12 is filled. p

Energization of the agitator solenoid 70 will effect rotation of the pump 16 in a direction to return suds from the suds storage tank 15 tothe tub 12.

`After the timer has advanced an interval of time, which in Figure 5 is shown as being three minutes, the solenoid 63 of the valve 19 is deenergized. This will close said valve to the passage of fluid from the suds storage tank 15 and will open said valve to the drain 53. The pump 16, however, will continue to rotate, but will pump no fluid. Y

A mixed water solenoid 88, or a hot water solenoid 89 of a mixing valve 90 will then be energized through conductor S1, switch S1, hand switch 80, lower contact 83a of water level switch 84 and through bottom contact 93 of the cam switch S7, or a top contact 94 of the cam switch S8, depending upon the temperature selected by a water temperature switch 95. The tub will then ibc filled with mixed or hot water as selected, until the water within the tub reaches the required level, it being understood that the level of the water is under the control of the water level switch 84, and that hot or mixed water is only added to bring the level of the washing fluid in the tub to the required level for eiiicient washing, and that the solenoids 88 and 89 are deenergized by opening contact 83a as soon as the level of water in the tub 12 comes up to the required level. The washing operation isthen carried out.

At the end of the agitation process represented in Figure 5 at the end of interval 17, the agitator solenoid 70 will be deenergized and the solenoid 63 of the two-way valve 19 .is energized through a bottom contact 97 of the cam operated switch SS and the bottom contact of switch S2, hand switch 80 and switch S1. The valve 19 is then opened for the storage of suds in the suds storage tank 15. Deenergization of agitator solenoid 70 will effect rotation of the bi-directional pump 16 in a direction to transfer suds from the tub 12 to the suds storage tank 15. An extractor solenoid 87 controlling the extracting operation is then energized a predetermined time interval after energization of the solenoid 63, to effect spinning of the clothes container 20. Current flow through solenoid S7 follows conductor 81, switch S1, hand switch 80, bottom contact 83a of water level switch 84 and the upper contact of switch S6, solenoid 87 and conductor 82. After a one minute period of the extracting operation, the solenoid 63 is deenergized (assuming switch 55 to be open) and the valve 19 is closed, holding suds in the suds storage tank 15. The rinsing and extracting cycle is then carried out, it being understood that the pump 16 is driven during the entire rinsing and extracting operations and pumps washing liquid extracted from the clothes through the drain 53.

The foregoing washing, rinsing and extracting or drying cycles are carried out during each laundering operation, the suds being transferred from the tub 12 to the storage tank 15 at the end of the firstiagitationorwashigf cycle and' being returned to the machine tub 12 at the initiation of a next succeeding washing cycle or laundering operation, as previously described.

If it is not desired to salvage any of the washing fluid from the first washing step or operation by temporary storage of this fluid intank 15, but is'instead desirable to flush and completely drain' tank 15 at the end of the complete'normal fabrics washing cycle, switch 55 may be moved into its closed position at any time prior to the end of interval 20 which normally marks the beginning of the diversion of fluid pumped from tub 12 through drain hose 53 rather than through hose 50 as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. l

In the prior described cycle of operations wherein fluid was diverted through'drain conduit 53, solenoid 63 was deenergized at thel end of interval 20 bythe opening of the bottom contact 97 of switch S5 to cause valve 19 to terminate communication between conduits 59 and 50 and to establish communication between conduits 59 and 53. In this alternate cycle of operation wherein all fluid is pumped to said storage tank 15, solenoid 63 remains energized during intervals 21, 22 and 23 through an alternate shunt circuit provided from conductor' 81, switch S1, hand switch 80, switch S2, top contact 99 of switch S3, contact 56 of switch 55, solenoid 63 and conductor 82.

The spray rinse fluid discharged into tub 12 during intervals 21 and 22 is, therefore, diverted into suds tank 15 and dilutes the fluid previously discharged to tank 15 following the endfofthe first agitational washing process. The deep rinse period, which is initiated at the beginning of interval 24, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, provides for a tub filling operation and two intervals of agitation. Instead of therinsing fluid directed into tub 12 being pumped through drain hose'53, as in the previously described cycle, the alternate energization circuitffor solenoid 63 causes valve 19 to be positioned so as to cause all vsuch rinsing fluids as well as fluid from a short spray rinse occurring in intervals 28 to be discharged into tank 15. The conventional final extraction operation is also initiated at the beginning of interval 28 and continues until the end of interval 33 which marks the termination of the complete normal fabrics washing operation. l

The total quantity of fluid diverted into tank 15 is such as to cause a dilution, flooding and overflow through conduit 54of tub 15'so as to produce a desired cleaning action of inner wall surfaces of tank 15 which might otherwise accumulate soap and scum at the various high water marks within tank 15.

After the end of interval -29 during the final extraction operation, solenoid 63 is deenergized by the opening of contact 99 of switch S3. This terminates communication between conduits 59 and 50 and provides communication between conduits 59 and 53 instead. Simultaneously with the deenergization of solenoid 63, solenoid 64 is energized through conductor 81, switch S1, hand switch 80, lower contact 83a of the water level switch 84, upper contact 100, of switch S7, contact 57 of switch 55, solenoid 64 and conductor 82. This terminates communication between conduits 65 and 60 and instead establishes communication between conduits 51 and 60 so that pump 16 pumps all of the fluid contents of tank 15 to drain through conduit 51, valve 17, conduit 60, pump 16, conduit 59, valve 19 and drain conduit 53. By means of this dilution, flooding and overflow operation of tank 15 and subsequent complete pumpout, the inner wall surfaces of tank 15 are prevented from accumulating layer upon layer of soap deposits which might otherwise normally accumulate.

It will be understood that various modifications and variations of the present invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof.

',Iclaimiasmy-invention:

Lizin-a combineduclothes Washingiandlfextracting machine, a lcabinet, a tub, .a Clothes container rotatably mounted within said tub, a suds-storage tank, amotor, a sequential controller, mechanism driven bysaid motor andi-operated under'the control ofzsaid-sequ'ential controller 'for carrying out a washing step and aseries of extracting and rinsing steps in said clothes container, a pump driven by said motor for'pumping water 4in yone direction during a washing step and in anopposite direction at the termination of a washing step, rst'and second two-way valve means and conduitrneans associated with said tub, pump yand suds storage tank tovconduct iiuid in one direction for washing and in an opposite direction for storage, depending zupon'the direction ofrotation of said pump, said irst two-way valvemeans beingconnected between said 'tub and lsaid pump, 'said second .two-'way valve means-being'connectedbetween saidpump andk said sudsstoragetank, 'said conduitfmeans including a by-pass line'connected from said iirst two-wayvalv-e. means' to said sndssstorage tank 4to drain the tstorageztank, :said storage tank having means .forming anoverow drain, said `sequentialcontrol mechanism including aplurality of timer switches controlling operationfof said valvemeans, and manually operable switch means `cooperating with #said timer Switches to effect operation of `said second two-way valve means to supply Vrinse water to said suds storage tank to overflow suds into said overflow drain, and to drain water from said tub into said storagetankrfor iiushing, and to then effect operation of Said rst twoway'va'lve means to 'eiect the draining of water from` said suds storage tank.

2. In a combined clothes `washing and extracting machine, a cabinet, a tub within said cabinet, a rotatable clothes container within said tub, a `suds storage tank, a Vmotor within said cabinet, means .including a .pump driven by said motor through which water may be pumped in two directions as selected comprising a 'first two-way valve connected between said'tub and said pump, a second two-way valve connected :between said suds .storage tank and said pump, separate means connecting said second two-way valve to drain and forming an'overiiow drain for said suds storage tank, means forming a by pass between said iirst two-way valve and said suds storage tank, a sequential controller including at least two .timer operated switches, and manually operable switch means cooperating with said controller and having electrical connection with said timeroperated switches to effect operation of said second two-way valve under the cyclic control of said sequential controller to sup ply rinse water to said suds storage tank thereby to overflow suds from said suds storage Vtank to said overiiow drain, and to operate said rst two-way valve vand said kpump to discharge water from said suds storage tank through said by-pass and 'said second twoway valve to drain at the end ofthe laundering operation.

3. In a combined clothes washing and extracting .machine, a cabinet, a. tub within said cabinet, a :rotatable clothes container within said tub, an agitator Vwithin said clothes container, Va `suds storage tank, arn'otor within said cabinetand mechanismselectively driven thereby for oscillatable driving -sai'd agitator fan'd rotatably, drivg ing said clothes container to extract water from 'the clothes therein, `means including a pump driven by 'said motor through which 'water may be pumped intwo directions as selected vcomprising a two-way valve connected between said tub and said pump, a second itwoway valve connected between said suds storage tank and said pump, conduit 'means forming separate connections to drain fromsaid suds storage tank and from one of said two-way valves, pres'ettable sequential control means for operating said machine through a series of washing, .rinsing andextra'cting -periods of a preselected program and regulating said valves and said pumpto temporarily store laundry liquid from said tub infsaid storage tank after a washing period and to return the laundry liquid to said tub to begin a new program, a by-pass Vline connected between said suds storage tank and said first two-way valve, and manually operable 'switch meansconditioningsaid sequential 'control means tov'eiect opening of said second two-way valve during the next extracting period of the machine following actuation of said manually operable switch means to discharge rinse water land water extracted from the clothes fromsaid tub'to'said sudsr storage tank to overiiow suds to 'overflow drain and to discharge all of the liquid in said suds storage tank to drain at the end of the laundering program.

4. In an automatic washing machine having a sequential controller to automatically operate the machine through a pre-selected laundering program including a washing period and a rinsing period, the improvement of a suds storage tank having a lower inlet and an upper drain, va tub in which washing and rinsing occurs, a separate drain for said tub, conduit means including a pump and interconnecting said tub, said lower inlet of said tank, and said separate drain and including valve means regulated by said sequential controller to normally temporarily store laundry liquid from said tub in said suds storage tank after a washing period and to discharge rinse liquid to said separate drain, and pre-settable switch means conditioning said sequential controller upon operation of said presettable switch means to discharge rinse liquid into said lower inlet and overflow the laundry liquid then contained in said suds storage tank through said upper drain and after such rinsing period to discharge all of the contents of said suds storage ta'nk to said separate drain.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 21,020 Wales et al. Y.. Feb. 28, 1939 2,302,012 Dyer NOV. 177., 1942 YA2,498,885 Geldhof et al. Feb. 28, 1950 2,588,774 Smith Mar. l1, 1952 '2,642,085 Geldhof et al. June 16, 1953 Y2,728,352 Sanders Dec. 27, 1955 

